Cohen also negotiated a $1.6 million settlement between a former Playboy Playmate and RNC deputy finance chairman Elliott Broidy, according to a story today by the WSJ.

James Comey's book comes out Tuesday. His George Stephanopoulos interview arrives on ABC on Sunday night, and the excerpts have been landing all week, including several in Axios AM. [Juiciest excerpts]

Trump punched back at Comey on Twitter today, calling him a "slime ball" liar and leaker.

2. What you missed

Trump has pardoned Scooter Libby, former Chief of Staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, who was convicted of lying to the FBI and obstruction of justice in 2007. Statement.

Trump quote du jour: “I’ve heard about [Libby] a long time and he got screwed." More.

Oil giant Saudi Aramco made nearly $34 billion in net income during the first half of 2017, making it the world's most profitable company, according to data viewed by Bloomberg News. Highlights.

House Democrats plan to use this week's Facebook hearings as the starting point for an aggressive push for privacy legislation, which sets them up to move a bill forward if the House flips in November. Why you'll hear it again.

Russia claims Presidents Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron agreed on a phone call to stay in “close contact” and coordinate their actions to avoid military escalation in Syria. More.